Knowledge and Attitude of Health Care Providers for Korean National Health Examination

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Current National Health Examination (NHE) in Korea provides health examination to the public throughout the entire life course; however, management after NHE is not sufficiently delivered. In this study, we investigated knowledge and attitude of health care providers in order to revise result forms and counseling manual of NHE. METHODS: We recruited 30 doctors, who undergo NHE, and conducted survey from January 7, 2016 to January 26, 2016. Participants answered questionnaires regarding difficulty of explaining each items of result forms, difficulty of counseling each items of NHE, and ways of improvement. Furthermore, we conducted in-depth interview regarding pros and cons of NHE and improvements needed. RESULTS: The average Likert score for difficulty of explaining items of result forms was lowest (3.8/5.0 points) for blood test due to its graphic format. Difficult counseling items were mental health, mild cognitive impairment and dementia, and healthcare for the elderly. The proportions of doctors, who often counsel these items, were less than 40%. In the in-depth interview, health care providers suggested that examinees' knowledge for result forms decreases because it is hard to interpret, and management after NHE should be improved by undertaking NHE in primary health care facilities. CONCLUSIONS: The graphic format of blood test result form should be revised into readable format, and contents of counseling manual for mental health, mild cognitive impairment and dementia, and healthcare for the elderly should be improved. Financial support for doctors should be provided, and NHE should ultimately be reinforced in primary health care facilities.